Raylands Country Park, Southwater: Owls, Kestrels and More Than 100 Bird Boxes

Here is a story that should put a smile on the face of anyone who loves a quiet morning on the decking with a cup of tea and the birds for company. Raylands Country Park in Southwater, West Sussex, has been praised by Horsham District Council for the way it blends a peaceful holiday park with some impressive work for wildlife.

As reported by the Sussex Express on 15 October 2026, members of the council's Enterprising Horsham team visited the park alongside Councillor Colette Blackburn, Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Nature Recovery.

A family-run holiday park for over-50s

According to the Sussex Express, Raylands is a long-established, family-run business set in more than 13 acres of landscaped grounds. It provides holiday homes for people aged 50 and over who want a peaceful countryside retreat close to family, friends and the attractions of Sussex.

During the visit, council representatives met managing director Rosie Kent and park manager Ben Gumbrell. The report says they talked about the opportunities and challenges facing the sector, including changing customer expectations, wider economic pressures and the position of independent holiday parks.

Bird boxes, beehives and a bug hotel

The wildlife work is the real highlight. The Sussex Express reports that the park has:

• More than 100 bird boxes installed across the site
• Bat boxes and beehives
• A purpose-built bug hotel
• Wildlife-friendly planting, native tree schemes and habitat creation

The results sound lovely. According to the report, a particularly successful 2026 breeding season saw kestrels, barn owls and tawny owls thriving on the site. For holiday home owners who enjoy nature, that is quite something to have on the doorstep.

What the council and the park said

Councillor Blackburn told the Sussex Express that the biodiversity work was "particularly impressive" and showed "how local businesses can play an important role in supporting wildlife while also creating a great experience for their customers."

Rosie Kent said: "As an independent family-run business, creating a peaceful and welcoming community for our holiday homeowners is incredibly important to us, but so too is looking after the natural environment around us." She added that it was "wonderful to see wildlife increasingly thriving for the wider community and all our owners to enjoy."

The council said the visit is part of its ongoing programme of engagement with businesses across the district that help create jobs, attract visitors and support the local economy.

Why it is good news

It is always encouraging to see a holiday park recognised for looking after its surroundings. Owls and kestrels thriving where people come to relax is a nice reminder that a well-run park can be a haven for wildlife as well as for its owners.

If you own a holiday home in the area, you can find more on our Sussex page. If you own on a park with age rules of its own, our guide to static caravan park age limits explains how these can work when it comes to selling.

Thinking about selling?

If you are weighing up your options, Static Caravan Buyer offers a free, no-obligation valuation for your static caravan or lodge, and we can help with the park paperwork if you decide to go ahead. We charge no commission when we buy your caravan or lodge. We aim to contact you within 24 hours and make an offer within 48 hours after contact. Payment is made on collection day before the caravan is loaded.

Prefer to talk it through first? Call us free on 0800 644 5000. There is no pressure either way.

Source: Sussex Express, 15 October 2026, with picture and information courtesy of Horsham District Council.